|
The Pro Shop
|
|
|
|
NEW: Buy 2 items (or
more) and get a free
upgrade to 1st Class
UK postage.
Viking
Cue Towel
Cuetec Bowtie
Now in Colour!
Cuetec Glove
New NOIR Colour
Black Ingot
Break Cue Tip
Pechauer Naked
Black Ice
Triple 60
Billiard Chalk
Cuetec Pro Line 4x8
Noir Limited Edition
Cuetec Pro Line 2x4
Noir Limited Edition
Aramith
Camouflage
Cue Cube
Dime Radius
Cue Cube
Nickel Radius
Mosconi Cup
Team Europe Lag Ball
Aramith BLACK
Single 9 Ball
Predator P3 REVO
Purple Racer
Predator SP2
Limited Edition Nova
Mezz Sneaky Pete
Purple Heart 2
Kamui
Tip Protectors
Bear
DB-8 / UniLoc Shaft
Hans Delta
Shaft & Ferrule Care
Cuetec HI-TECH
Graphite cue cleaner
Predator Urbain
Black & Yellow 3x5
Predator Urbain
Black & Yellow 2x4
Taom MaxRack
Coming Soon!
Predator P3
Red Tiger
Table Cover
9ft Leatherette
Lucasi
Limited Edition LUX63
Lucasi
Limited Edition LUX58
Viking Two Feather
White Wolf
Cuetec AVID
Opt-X FK Blue
Pechauer
Rogue Carbon Shaft
Aramith BLACK
Orange 5 & 13 Ball
Predator
Pro Billiard Series
Sure Shot
Joint Protector Holder
Predator Air Rush
Red Revenge
Cuetec Pro Line 4x8
New GREY Colour
Cuetec Pro Line 4x8
New NAVY Colour
Cuetec Glove
New GREY Colour
Cuetec Glove
New NAVY Colour
Mezz
ASTR Series
Felt Saver
by Cue Candy
8pt Sneaky Pete
Maple and Rosewood
Last 4 Ever
Combo Tip-Tool
Desk Clock
Ideal Gift
BMC Meucci
Custom Casino 3
4pt Sneaky Pete
Leather emboss wrap
Predator Aspire
Weight Bolts
8pt Sneaky Pete
Leather emboss wrap
High End JPs
Engraved Aluminium
Predator K Series
Iconic Classics 2-3
Predator BK4
No Wrap/Linen/Sports
Kielwood Shafts
11.75mm Torrified
Taom Pro Tips
Back in stock
2 1/4" Table Bowls
Made in England
Mezz
Wavy Joint Protectors
Zan Premium
14mm Soft
Magic Ball Rack
Matchroom Grey
Predator
Black Shadow Hoodie
Predator
White Shadow Hoodie
BMC Meucci
Glass Rose - White
Predator
Crest Billiard Chalk
In Stock Now
Simonis 860
Cuetec AVID Proof
Brown - NW
Cuetec AVID
Low Deflection Shafts
Cuetec AVID Proof
Black - LTW
Predator Pure
3-pc Chalk Sampler
PRO
Inspection Machine
TAOM
Leather Chalk Pouch
HOW
Premium Chalk
Predator P3 Nova
British Racing Green
Moori
Billiard Glove
Predator
Pool Ball Carrier Case
Cuetec Cynergy
SVB Gen 1 Series
BRAD
Cue Scuffer
Aramith BLACK
Back in stock!
Aramith BLACK
Individual cue ball
Cuetec Pro Line
2x4 Hard Case
Cuetec
Alcohol Wipes
Cuetec
Acueweight Kit
Cuetec DUO®
Smart Extension
Cuetec AVID Era
6pt Sneaky Pete
Cuetec AVID Era
Florian Kohler
Cuetec Truewood
Cynergy Walnut
Cuetec Truewood
Cynergy Walnut
Cuetec AVID
11.75 & 12.75mm
Cuetec Truewood
Cynergy Leopard
Cuetec Truewood
Cynergy Leopard
Cuetec Billiard
Microfiber Towel
Cuetec Gloves
All sizes in stock!
Cuetec AVID
Surge Break Cue
Cuetec
Bullet Jump Cue
Pocket Lathe
Portable shaft rollers
Predator
Shorty + Sport Grip
Tiger
Silicone Grip
Longoni
Bohemia
Longoni
No Blue
Predator Throne
Series 3-1
Predator Throne
Series 3-2
Predator Throne
Series 3-3
Predator Throne
Series 3-4
Predator Throne
Series 3-5
Lucasi Rival
3x4 Soft Case
Back In Stock!!!
Folding Cue Holder
Willards Tool
Nickel and Dime
Taom
Midas Gloves
Mid-Cue Extension
1¾ Inch UniLoc
Predator
REVO Wipes
Jacoby BlackOut
Brown - No Wrap
Jacoby BlackOut
Grey - Sport Grip
Rasson Method
Last chance to buy!
5/16x18
Mid-Cue Extension
Predator REVO
SP2 Zebra 1
Fury
Telescopic Extension
Predator 2x4
Special Edition Case
Predator 3x5
Special Edition Case
Taom
Soft Chalk
Predator - Appleton
2x4 Hard Case
Predator Glove
Bold New Colours
Predator Strike
Red Jersey
Predator Strike
Yellow Jersey
Brunswick K55
Cushion Rubber
Predator Air 2
Replacement Bumper
Tiger
Bridge Head
HOW Titan
Japanese Pig Skin
Predator 8 Inch
Exotic Extensions
P3 Bocote Radial
Leather Luxe Wrap
Magic Ball Rack
They are back!
Taom Magnetite
Round Chalk Holder
Predator K-Series
Classics 1-4
Predator K-Series
Classics 1-4
Kamui Athlete
Tip for Carbon Shafts
Predator Aspire
Predator ONE Shaft
Fury Stinger
X-Series Cues
Lucasi Air Hog 2
3-piece jump cue
Magic Rack
Tournament Edition
REVO BK RUSH
Break Cue Shaft
Mezz EC9 Cues
Buy NOW!
Kamui Kageki
Extreme Chalk
Predator TrueSplice
LE Gen 2 Ebony
Predator TrueSplice
LE Gen 2 Curly
Hans Delta
SK-BK1 Break Cue
Jim Rempe
Special Training Ball
Kamui - Training
Diamond Slicer
Exceed
Chalk Holder
Turtle Racks
10 Packs
ProPockets
Free post worldwide!
Pocket Lathe
Free post worldwide!
Predator
AeroRack
Great White Chalk
Thresher Blue
Predator 8-Point
Black/Green Veneers
Predator ARCOS II
Reserve Cue Ball
Predator APEX
9ft Pro Table
Tiger
Sniper Tip
Predator
Ikon4-1
Predator
Ikon4-2
Predator
Ikon4-3
Predator
Ikon4-4
Predator
Ikon4-5
Kamui
Chalk Shark
Speed 2
Affordable UniLoc
Mezz ZC-23
2 butt/3 shaft
Master Pro
K55 Cushion Rubber
Rare Predator
Matt Black BK-2
Lucasi Custom
UniLoc Joint
Lucasi Custom
UniLoc Joint
Lucasi Custom
3/8x10 Joint
Lucasi Custom
3/8x10 Joint
UniLoc Weights
Cartridge System
Mezz Avant
Dual Loading System
Magic Ball Rack
All-In-One
Kamui SAI
Control Break
Ignite 12.2 Shaft
Pre-order NOW!
Accu-Rack
Complete SET
Accu-Rack
DIAMOND 9
Accu-Rack
PRO 10
Predator Roadline
3x5 Black/Yellow
Predator ARCOS
Back in stock!
Aramith Pro Cup
Back in stock!
Taom
V10 Chalk
Tiger Corona
Leather Bridge
Taom
Pool Chalk 2.0
Taom
Pyro Chalk
Longoni
Cuetip Razor
Bulletproof
Break Cue Tip
Meucci Shaft
Carbon Fiber Pro
Predator REVO
11.8, 12.4, & 12.9mm
McDermott
6x6 Sport Case
Nicks Edge
Burnishing Papers
Pechauer
Jump Cue Natural
Pechauer
Jump Cue Black
Predator
Metro Cue Cases
Thor Hammer
Break Cue by Joss
Poison Armor3
2x4 Hard Case
Poison Armor3
2x4 Hard Case
Mezz Glove
Grey / Ambidextrous
BIG BALLS!
2¼" English Pool Balls
HXT-P1 PureX
Multi-Jump/Break
Tiger Icebreaker+
High Density Microcell
BK2 Re-Issue!
In Stock Now!
Arcadia Reserve
Tournament Blue
Predator Exclusive
Best value!
"Super Bat Wing"
The best got better!
Billiards 2021/22
Official Rules/Records
Predator SL 1
Valour Cue by Jacoby
NEW Improved
Magnetic Clip Chalker
TheProShop.biz
Free Post in Europe!
Order now! |
|
|
|
|
Main Menu
|
|
|
|
|
A beer, a date, a bet, and the American game of pool - by Ted Lerner
|
|
|
Posted on Saturday, October 27 2007 @ 21:56:02 UTCby admin
|
|
|
The World Pool Championship Araneta Coliseum Quezon City Metro Manila Philippines www.matchroomsport.com www.hey-joe.net www.tedlerner.com
3-11 November 2007
Angeles City, Philippines -- Last year’s World Pool Championship final in Manila featured two players, Ralf Souquet and Ronnie Alcano, who, on the surface, appeared to have little in common. In fact they and their respective countries, Germany and the Philippines, would appear to be polar opposites in just about everything. Except for one caveat that went largely unnoticed, however; both countries were introduced to the sport of pool through the long time presence of the American military in their respective nations. Indeed that’s what was so fascinating about last year’s final in Manila. Two great “American” pool playing countries doing battle for the world title.
It’s what happens when you have your military camped around the world. Your culture--the good, the bad and the ugly- goes with you. Imagine if peace miraculously ever does come to Iraq, 30 to 40 years from now you’ll probably see Iraqi pool players making big strides in the sport. Pool is one of the few American imports the fun-killing fundamentalists over there could probably tolerate. Chains of Hooters restaurants in Baghdad obviously won’t cut it.
"Read More..." for the details.
In Germany most people could easily trace America’s version of pool back to 1945 and the end of World War II, when, after crushing the Germans, the Americans took up a prolonged residency. For the Philippines the beginnings are not so evident. Pool fans who have never been to the Philippines often wonder how it is that the sport became so vastly popular in this tropical Asian archipelago. Well, check your history folks. 99 out of 100 Americans probably have no clue that the Philippines was once an American colony.
Anyone seeking to unearth one of the reasons for the Filipinos' insatiable love of pool, need look no further than 80 kilometers north of Manila here to the former U.S. Clark Air Force Base, and the adjacent dusty, bustling, cow-town of Angeles City. You’ve heard of Angeles City right? Sure you have. That’s the hometown of the greatest player of all time; Efren “Bata” Reyes.
It all started way before Efren was even a gleam in his parents’ eyes. Way back in 1903, five years after the US had “bought” the Philippines from Spain, and just as the Americans were winding up a bloody war to suppress the Filipinos’ desire for nationhood, the US Cavalry came north from Manila looking for a wide open place to park their horses. They named this remote provincial outpost Ft. Stotsenburg.
Like everywhere else we go, we Americans say we’re only stopping in for a hello, a cold drink and a goodbye. Naturally we ended up staying for about 90 years, until we were forced out in 1991 by the Philippine Senate and the explosion of Mt. Pinatubo. In between these nine decades this horse park morphed into Clark Airbase, which eventually became the largest US Air force base outside the United States. Angeles City, which eventually developed to service the “needs” of the airmen, also became one of the great outposts of the “American” game of pool.
“Vegas” Dave Hamilton knows a few things about the history of pool in Angeles. Back in the early ‘70’s, he enlisted in the Air Force and first came to Clark in the mid 1970's. He describes himself then as a semi-pro pool player, winning championships on Air Force bases in Florida, Michigan, Mississippi, Texas, Germany and Clark in the Philippines.
After the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 drove the Americans away, he stayed on and has made Angeles City his home. All in all, he’s been one of the top foreign pool players in Angeles for several decades.
Appropriately for this Sin City, we met up recently at a local girlie bar/ restaurant/pool room. Actually we sat in the restaurant/pool room while through the tinted glass we could watch several dozen bikini clad girls dance lazily to some disco music.
“Vegas” Dave carried with him a list he and some other retired military guys have been compiling of all the bars that were in existence back in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. Vietnam was winding down, but the Cold War was still raging and the base was thriving. Outside the gates of the base in Angeles City, a raucous, low-rent, honky-tonk collection of nightclubs and girlie bars catered to GIs on what was publicly known as “R&R,”(Rest and Recreation) but more commonly and accurately known as “I &I”(Intercourse and Intoxication). While we talked Dave counted over 400 bars in existence back then, all of whom catered to testosterone raging GI's and a few wandering expats of varying nationalities. This was one of the greatest party towns in the history of the world with all the ingredients for the perfect night out; a cheap, ice cold beer; a game of pool; perhaps a little money action on the side; an easy date. Put them all together and you’ve summed up Angeles City in a proverbial nutshell.
Vegas Dave recalls that back when he first arrived in Clark, there were about a dozen pool tables in clubs on the Base, and a few more in the bars outside. However, the big game of recreation in the bars for the GI’s and expat civilians was darts. Sometime around 1978, however, the bars started taking out the darts and putting in pool tables. Within months nearly 100 bars had put in pool tables. Soon leagues started to spring up.
Interest in pool was so high that in 1982 Dave and a few other guys formed the Monday night Angeles City Pool League(ACPL). Soon other leagues followed; the Thursday night South Side Pool League, which, funnily enough, was played on the west side of town. Then there was the Wednesday afternoon Social Hotel League. All in all, these weekly pool leagues comprised well over 1500 guys, most of them US military personnel. No doubt it’s heartening to know for us Americans that our tax dollars at least weren’t going to waste.
“I've played pool in almost every part of the world,” Vegas Dave said, “and there's no place that could compare to Angeles in the 1980's.”
With nearly 800 weekly participants, the ACPL thought it would be a good idea to get sanctioned by the Billiard Congress of America(BCA). They wrote to the BCA informing them of their league and, as an afterthought, threw in a copy of their rules, which “Vegas” Dave and others on the committee had radically changed. The rules committee felt that the game of 8-ball, which was the one most widely played in Angeles City at the time, suffered from some serious shortcomings.
“There were no rules like ball in hand, or that a ball had to touch a rail after a shot,” Dave said. “And you had to call everything in those days. It was mostly the Aussies in the league. They would play dumb, petty shots and we had a lot of arguments and fights. We had to find a way to stop this chicken poopie stuff.” And so the ACPL came up with some new rules, like ball in hand anywhere on the table after a foul, not having to call every shot, a ball having to hit a rail after making contact.
Eventually the BCA wrote back, informing them that they had been recognized, and that they also happened to be the largest known community pool league in the world. They didn’t hear any comments from the BCA regarding the league’s unique rule changes, but “Vegas” Dave insists that BCA adopted some of the ACPL’s rules.
“About a year later I walked into a bar in Angeles and noticed the updated BCA rules for 8-ball posted on the wall,” he said. “And wouldn’t you know it, a lot of the rules we had instituted were now part of the BCA rules.” Dave claims that 80% of the current rules of BCA 8-ball came from the ACPL back in the early 1980’s.
Tall stories being as common as the sunrise in these parts, I contacted rules guru Bob Jewitt in California for some insight on the matter. Offhand he had no direct knowledge of any of the rules of 8-ball coming from Angeles City at that time.
However, he did note that the rules of the game have changed often over the years and that it was possible the Americans in the Philippines had some say in those changes.
Whatever the case, Angeles City was clearly one of the world’s strongholds for the “American” game of pool. Of course this reputation was helped along by a certain young gun named Efren Reyes, whose rising standing as a player of unequal anywhere was spread in the dingy girlie bars of Angeles, where he would help the military men part with those coveted greenbacks.
“He never missed,” said Dave, who also co-owned the Barbary Coast bar back then. “He was so laid back. He played in flip flops and cut off shorts. His quality was above anything I encountered anywhere. He was 25% higher level than anyone in the States. In those days Efren would come in to play and he'd charge $2.50 to play a match and a $20 appearance fee with free drinks for him and his entourage. Today he charges $1000 for an appearance fee.”
Yes, times have changed. But although the American Air Force has gone, Angeles' notoriety as a, raunchy, Wild West cowboy town lives on to this day. This is a town where you can still walk into a bar and instantly get a 75 cent beer, a con story from some hardscrabble, loudmouthed traveler, a game of pool with a bet, and, of course, an easy date. It certainly seems to make sense that the man many consider to be the greatest billiards money player of all time comes from a place such as this.
These days there are pool leagues running daily among the foreign crowd here, although according to “Vegas” Dave, the quality of the play is nothing compared to what it was back in the 1980’s. In the wider Philippines, however, Filipinos have taken the “American” game of pool and made it their own. When Americans like “Vegas” Dave see the unprecedented level pool has reached in this country, they take a little pride in knowing the game’s origins in this land where pool is king, and who helped nurture that love.
“I'd like to think we helped introduce pool in the Philippines,” he said, “and that we had a small contribution to helping make the sport popular.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ted Lerner is the author of the books “Hey, Joe-- a slice of the city, an American in Manila,” and “The Traveler and the Gate Checkers—sex, death life…on the road in Asia.” He has lived in the Philippines since 1995 and has covered pool as a writer and TV commentator for many years. He will be reporting several times weekly from Manila up to and through this year’s Philippines World Pool Championship which runs from November 3rd-11th.
Email Ted at ted@hey-joe.net. Or visit his website at www.hey-joe.net or www.tedlerner.com
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
World Pool Championships 2007
|
|
|
|
|
Comments